Twelve investors have launched a new vinyl window manufacturing operation called Wincore Windows & Doors...read more

GED Launching New Generation of Vinyl Equipment

With a goal of bringing vinyl frame and sash production “up to the speed of Intercept,” GED Integrated Solutions is launching a new generation of smartVinyl i-3 equipment and software. Highlights of the new line include...read more

IG Certification and Fees Discussed at NFRC Meeting

An NFRC task group voted to require that all types of IG be certified. The vote was overwhelming at the summer meeting...read more

Window and door plant managers, equipment and software suppliers, lean gurus and other relatively educated production people have their own language and work in a world I’ll never comprehend fully from my industry-observing perch. One thing I do know, however, is the never-ending desire to improve efficiency and/or increase capacity often puts the focus on “the production bottleneck.”

What step in the process slows a line—or the whole plant—down? In vinyl window manufacturing, welding has long been pointed to as a culprit. In this week’s news, we report on a new pre-load system from GED that specifically targets the welding bottleneck. Of course, that’s not the only one. Those of you involved in door pre-hanging or wood products or anything other than vinyl can probably rattle off some others.

So, where is the biggest bottleneck in your process? That’s our poll question of the week. And, since the list provided is sort of generic, I’m hoping you’ll email me and be even more specific. I’d love to hear your comments, learn about those particularly frustrating areas of production, and, if you care to share, hear about your solutions.

RESULTS AND COMMENTS FROM LAST WEEK'S POLL—"Are there states or localities where your company won't do business due to onerous requirements to meet code or get a permit?": No one likes to jump through bureaucratic hoops, but they’re rarely so bad that window and door executives will give up. Click here to read more.